A City on a Hill: Sengbeh Bendugu.

We visited the village of Seduya, where there is a CRC and Family Farm is also quite active.  On the return trip to Kabala, along with us Ringmas, we had Rev. Ezekiel Sudu, Abu Jalloh (Family Farm), the pastor from Seduya CRC (plus a bag of rice and 4 chickens) and our night watchman, Sullaman Mansaray.  We had designs to drop by Sullaman's home village of Sengbeh Bendugu and meet his family.    

Sullaman's 'post' outside our door, on the veranda.

Really just a big kid, Sullaman and our kids get along well.

Not happy with the first picture, Sullaman insisted Ella retake his portrait. 

We discovered we could take a 'corner-corner' route (short-cut) along a motorcycle track and all reports were that the route was passable for a motor vehicle.  The reports were innaccurate.  We had to rebuild/go around/go through at least 3 difficult crossings (dry now, but still big ditches).  We also had to balance precariously on some pretty flimsy log bridges.  Ella closed her eyes too many times to count.  I felt like I was back in Northern BC driving decommissioned logging roads.

We had to go around the washed out bridge here.  

You can almost hear the gears turning as we figure out a way through/past/over/around the next obstacle.

It was a beautiful trip.

Fortunately, you cannot make out just how sketchy our re-built bridge actually is.  We made it!

More gorgeous scenery.

Abu and Ezekiel clear the road of debris.  You can see that it is little more than a goat path.  When we asked the person on the horizon how the road was, he said, "No problem."  It was clear that he meant the bridge 150 meters later would need to be re-engineered.

I wish you could see the hill that led up to the village, but Ella's eyes were shut and I was busy downshifting mid-hill from 2nd to 1st in 4 low ...  It was a stunning entrance to a remarkable village.

Sullaman with his niece just after we entered the village.

Chants of "Mani!  Mani!" rang through the air when we arrived in the motorcar.  Mani is Sullaman's nickname.

Sengbeh Bendugu family and friends.

The warm breeze coming up from the valley was inspirational.

The picture cannot do justice to the view from this city on a hill.

The Message's version of of Matthew 5 (A city on a hill cannot be hidden.)
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Sullaman.